Didi Luo

Didi is a recent graduate from University of Pennsylvania with a master degree in education. She had completed her bachelor degree in Chinese literature in China prior to her master. She is absolutely enthusiastic about education and language that she devoted at least two years to the teaching English and helping students with college admission. After getting her master degree, she focused developing her skills as a language educator, while at the same time pursuing a law certificate in China and an admission to U.S. law school in the future.

Changing Major in Grad School: Tips to Help You with the Transformation

Didi Luo, MS Education - University of Pennsylvania

While some take graduate school as a terrific opportunity to advance their undergraduate profession, some seize the chance to thrive on another path. It is absolutely common for students to switch from their majors in college to a new one, whether relative or not, when they decide their major in graduate school. I have known friends and classmates in graduate school who are studying in a completely different major. Some of them figured out their inner enthusiasm for their current majors, while some of them chose their new majors for their future in terms of securing a job.

Being one of the people who changed major from undergraduate university to graduate school in the United States, I have experience both failure and success in the process of school application. Here are some genuine advice or tips that might help you with such transformation.

1. Know the key requirements of your target major

Knowing what are some significant requirements of your target school and major is essential if you decide to change your major. For instance, some MPA programs seek strong quantitative ability from the candidates, while some prefer applicants with working experience in the field. Failing to meet such requirements is very likely to put your application profile in the “unwanted candidate” category. The first thing you need to do is to either check out the admission criteria checklist posted on the school websites, or simply talk to someone who knows this major well.

2. Matching the requirements: are you qualified?

The second step you need to do is to evaluate yourself to see if your abilities and previous experience match the mandatory requirements. Figure out what stands you out as a perfect match with your target school and major. Also be aware of any qualities you lack to meet such requirements.

3. What you can or cannot change.

If you decided to apply for a specific major in a school and you feel inadequate to meet their requirements. The only thing you can and should do is to make it up with some work prior to your application. For instance, if you had no experience in quantitative economics, take such course from your school or simply from the internet could be at least helpful when you apply.

Best wishes,
Didi Luo

Q: Why are you passionate about your academic field? When and how did you discover your love of your subject?

A:I have grown up in a teacher family and have been immersed in such environment. To
me, education is a profession where you learn and grow as a teacher along with the
students. It has been an amazing journey so far with all the students I have met and I
learnt so much from my students when teaching them.

Q: What are your three top recommendations for a student targeting a masters in your field? What if they are preparing to switch their major to your field?

A:Studying in the field of education isn’t too tough, while becoming a great educator takes
a lot of patience and hard work. Second, getting a master in education requires much
more than learning from the literature. So you will have to learn how from practice,
especially applying classroom knowledge to your own teaching. Third, becoming a
charismatic person is sometimes more important than garnering all the pedagogy. If you
are switching your major to education, be aware of the importance of practicing in this
profession.

Q: What resources can students use to educate themselves on your subject?

A:Education, especially language education can be interesting if you have some background
knowledge in psychology and cognitive science. Read some articles in that field might be
helpful when you take such courses for a master in education.

Q: What are your top tips to showcase an applicant’s strength to Admissions Officers?

A:Passion!!! There isn’t too much expertise required for the admission to the master
program in education, but definitely show your passion and enthusiasm to teaching and
education. Nobody is born to be the perfect educator, it’s usually the passion and love for
education that pushes an individual to reach excellency in education.

Q: Any pitfalls or mistakes an applicant should be aware of as they apply to your program?

A:Your application portfolio should be a perfect presentation of how enthusiastic and
devoted you are as a future teacher. Some teaching experience is recommended but not
seriously required. So, merely lining up your relevant experience is definitely not enough
to show the admission officer how driven you are to become a future educator. Therefore,
make sure that you expressed some of your insights from your teaching practice,
preferably some inspiring ones.

Q: Why did you apply to your university and program? What other universities and programs were you admitted to?

A: I was admitted to graduate school of education at UPenn, which is a prestigious IVY
university with excellence in liberal arts including education. I chose it because of its
academic prestige and geographic location. I was also admitted to education programs at
schools like New York University and Vanderbilt University.

Q: What are the common career paths for graduates in your field?

A: Teachers! In both public and private sectors. Some of my classmates also chose to
continue their academic path by pursuing a PhD degree in language acquisition, which
may lead them to a college professor position in the future.

Q: What aspects of the campus culture are your favorites? Which aspects surprised you? Which would you change if you could?

A:The open and international academic atmosphere is one of my favorite features of Penn
campus. The campus is ethnically diverse and highly international. It is relatively easier
for an international student to fit in. So far I have no compliant for the school or the
campus.

Q: What’s your favorite fun fact about your university? Any special events or traditions or legends?

A:A lot of interesting activities are carried out among undergraduate students. For them,
there are spring fling every year, which is a great timing for drinking and partying. There
is also Hey Day, which is a celebration of junior students becoming seniors when the
seniors graduate. Postgraduate students usually focus more on their professional
development and socialization, as well as free food events.

Q: How did you spend your summer vacation during university? Any advice for making the most of summer?

A:I managed to finish my two-year program in a year and a half, mainly by taking three
courses during the summer session when most of the students chose to take internships or
travel. I also backpacked in Europe for a photographing trip after I finished the two
summer sessions last year, it was a great opportunity to do so when you are still a student.
You could also choose to intern during the summer to build up your resume. But as an
international student you might need to figure out your visa status.

Q: What makes you smile? Share more on a favorite hobby.

A:I like working out and I started building a habit of it when I began my master program.
Penn has great gym and it is now free to all the enrolled students. I have taken wall
climbing classes and hiking trips with the gym. Exercise is a perfect way if you are under
great pressure from school and life. It helps you to release stress and strengthen
willpower at the same time. Running, for example, helps you improve your stamina both
physically and mentally. The extra reward from working out is a relatively fit body and a
healthy life style. While most international students gained weight in the states, I
remained fit and healthy from working out.

Q: Why are you excited to mentor Dyad Scholars?

A:I have gained some experience in college application and living in entirely new
environment. I am enthusiastic about sharing such experience and at the same time
benefit others in their process of college application.

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